20 Oscar-winning songs still worth listening to

While the ridiculously catchy “Naatu Naatu” from Bollywood epic RRR only just won the Academy Award this year, it’s as infectious now as it was then. The song, which is part of an extravagant musical and dance number in the film, has gone viral worldwide and had audiences dancing out of their seats in theaters. Thanks to the tune’s high energy and the actors’ fabulous dance moves, you won’t get this out of your head anytime soon. 

Audrey Hepburn’s dreamy “Moon River” performance in Breakfast at Tiffany’s left just as much of a mark as her classic little black dress. As Hepburn (who plays Holly Golightly) sits at an open window in her apartment and strums her guitar, audiences can’t help but be serenaded by the romantic and gentle number. The song has been covered several times since by the likes of Andy Williams and Frank Ocean, but Hepburn’s version remains supreme.

A number of James Bond themes have won the Oscar for Best Original Song over the years, but there is none more grand and breathtaking than Adele’s “Skyfall," performed for the film of the same name. Thanks to the singer’s powerful vocals and the hypnotic orchestral arrangement of the classic Bond theme, this slow and moody ballad crescendos to a dramatic climax, much like a Bond film. It oozes the mystery and suave of the character, making the perfect Bond track. 

As perhaps the most acclaimed modern musical, La La Land ’s soundtrack features several gorgeous songs that all could have easily won an Oscar. However, the atmospheric and melancholic “City of Stars” took home the gong that year. Performed twice, first by Ryan Gosling and then in a duet with Emma Stone, the song features a simple piano rift that repeatedly plays throughout the film, perfectly encapsulating the hopes and dreams of these two creative lovers.

Just like the film it comes from, Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” has the power to instantly cue the waterworks. With Dion’s masterful vocal ability and the instantly recognizable and haunting melody from composer James Horner, the famous Titanic track swells with emotion. It devastatingly pays tribute to one of the most tragic love stories in cinema history. You can’t think of Jack and Rose without thinking of this song, and vice versa. 

Performed by John Legend and Common, “Glory” was written for the Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma. A glorious ballad that features orchestration, rap, and a choir, the song plays during the film’s end credits. With its moving lyrics, it pays tribute to the Civil Rights Movement and the legendary march from Selma to Montgomery in 1954. Legend and Common brought everyone to tears when they performed at the 2015 Oscars, and the song feels even more timely in today’s climate.

Much like “Naatu Naatu” in 2023, Slumdog Millionare’s “Jai Ho” brought Hindi music to the forefront of Hollywood. Another song that had audiences dancing in theater aisles, the track played alongside an epic musical number during the film’s end credits, concluding an extremely heavy story. “Jai Ho” was even re-recorded and released as an English pop anthem by The Pūssycat Dolls, but it’s still worth listening to the original version, which is written in Hindi.

Acclaimed Irish romantic-drama Once features a slew of beautiful songs that all could have been Oscar nominated, but it’s “Falling Slowly” that remains the most memorable and enchanting. Performed by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who plays the film’s central couple, the song captures the story of their love and will leave viewers spellbound. “Falling Slowly” and the rest of the soundtrack made such an impact that the film was adapted into a stage musical.

Plenty of classic Disney songs have won an Oscar over the years, but it’s hard to beat the nostalgia and magic of Pinocchio’s “When You Wish Upon A Star.” The song is sung by Jiminy Cricket during the film’s opening credits and final scene. While it plays a significant part in Pinocchio, it plays a bigger part in Disney’s larger legacy. The melody has become Disney’s unofficial theme and plays with the production logo at the start of nearly every film since the ‘80s. 

Eminem broke ground when “Lose Yourself” from his semi-biographical film 8 Mile became the first hip-hop song to ever win an Oscar in 2003. The song narrates the life of protagonist Jimmy, played by Eminem and loosely based on himself. “Lose Yourself” wasn’t just a cinematic hit but was also the No. 1 song in the world at the time. It has become the rapper’s biggest song and famously coined phrases like "mom’s spaghetti" through its frantic rhymes. 

Flashdance is a film that has always been met with mixed reception, but there’s no doubt the music stands out. While the film’s other main track, “Maniac,” was also nominated, Irene Cara’s “Flashdance… What a Feeling” won the Oscar in 1984. It was a No. 1 single then and is one of the most notable songs to come out of the ‘80s. It perfectly captures the lead character, played by Jennifer Beals, and remains wonderfully motivational.

Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes created one of the most famous pop songs of all time with “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life," which plays during the iconic final scene of Dirty Dancing . Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey take to the stage as Johnny and Baby for their final dance, and he lifts her up in the air with a move that has been recreated many times since. It’s a perfect song for a satisfying finale and encapsulates all the nostalgia and whimsy of the ‘80s.

While “Danger Zone” may be the song that plays during the opening credits of Top Gun , it was Berlin’s synth-centric ballad “Take My Breath Away” that captured the attention of the Academy. The song appears several times throughout the film, particularly focusing on the love story between Tom Cruise’s Maverick and Kelly McGillis’ Charlie. It’s a grand, soaring song that emulates the feeling of flying a plane or falling in love. Like the film itself, it was and still is a huge hit.

DreamWorks’s The Prince of Egypt is a beautifully animated musical retelling of the story of Moses from the Book of Exodus. One of the film’s most powerful moments is when the characters perform “When You Believe,” an epic anthem about the strength and miracles one can experience through faith. While this version is sung by the film’s cast, two of the most prolific female vocalists of all time were hired to sing it for the credits: Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

“Shallow” from 2018’s A Star Is Born is a powerhouse of a song, beautifully balanced by the subtleness of Bradley Cooper and the passion of Lady Gaga. Their duet marks a pivotal moment in the film, where Jackson and Ally perform on stage for the first time together, changing their lives and romance. It’s hard not to associate the song with Cooper and Gaga’s sizzling chemistry, which was clearly on display when they performed it at the Oscars.

Nothing says cinematic magic quite like the sound of the legendary Judy Garland as Dorothy performing “Over the Rainbow” in The Wizard of Oz. As a song that instills comfort and hope, it is one of the most definitive numbers to ever appear in a movie and gorgeously complements the magic and emotion associated with the film. “Over the Rainbow” remains timeless for moviegoers of all generations and continues to have people believing that dreams do come true.

When Bing Crosby first sang “White Christmas” in 1942’s Holiday Inn, there’s no way he could have known it would become a holiday classic. Come Christmas time, you can’t go anywhere without hearing this song at least once. Many people understandably think that “White Christmas” originally comes from the 1954 film White Christmas, which also features Crosby performing the song, but they’d be wrong. Crosby and the festive season go hand in hand, thanks to its success.

If you listen to “Born Free," your mind will instantly conjure images of a peaceful breeze, a sprawling savanna, and a pride of lions roaming in the sun. That’s because the song is from the film of the same name, which follows the true story of a couple who adopt a lion cub and raise it to survive in the wild. Featuring the rich vocals of Matt Monro, the song has become famous in pop culture over the years and has even been used in the Madagascar movies. 

Before Irene Cara won her Oscar for Flashdance, she won the award for her titular track from Fame. Cara was on double duty for the project, starring in the film’s lead role. The story follows a group of teenagers trying to chase their dreams at a performing arts school in New York. Cara’s song is a tribute to those everywhere who crave fame and glory and want to be remembered. Impressively, it was also Cara’s debut single as a recording artist.

If one hasn’t heard “Let It Go” from Frozen, they’ve probably been living under a rock. The track, performed by Elsa (Idina Menzel) as she embraces her powers in the film, became an unprecedented worldwide smash hit to the point where almost everyone knew the words. Parents with children at the time are probably all too familiar with the ballad, but it is a knockout. Since it’s been ten years since Frozen’s release, it is definitely worth revisiting.